Capitals Postgame: Milano Talks Hat Trick, Carbery Explains Pulling Kuemper, Kuznetsov Reflects On Homecoming

Here's what the Capitals and Evgeny Kuznetsov had to say following Friday's win over the Hurricanes.

WASHINGTON — The wildest hockey game of the year took place at Capital One Arena on Friday, as the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes went the distance and saw dueling hat tricks in what was ultimately a 7-6 win for D.C.

Sonny Milano had the hat trick in the win, while Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson and Connor McMichael also scored in regulation. Dylan Strome won the game in the shootout, which went five rounds, while Charlie Lindgren stopped all of the Hurricanes' attempts, including Evgeny Kuznetsov's.

Here's what the team had to say postgame, and some thoughts from Kuznetsov.

On his decision to pull Darcy Kuemper for Charlie Lindgren: "I felt like I needed to do something as a coach and it's not a decision that I take lightly to take Kuemps out there. But with the amount of goals that were going in and even the two challenges that are successful and the puck plays behind the net, I just felt like it wasn't Darcy's night. I just felt like we had to change momentum somehow, someway going into that third period."

On his first NHL hat trick: "Yeah, it's definitely pretty special for me. Didn't know if I was ever gonna get that so I'm pretty happy with that, especially in a big game like this."

On his return to D.C. and the standing ovation: "That's special. Yes, that's special. I think both — one was in Raleigh right away when they cheer for me, and this crowd cheer for me. It means the world for any player. I want to say thanks for all the good and bad memories. It was an amazing atmosphere. I spent a lot of years here, so it was all happy today."

"It's huge. Thanks for everything. It was an amazing 11 years. It's nice to be back here, play hockey. I wish them all the best. They got a pretty good team, and it's all positive."